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Fat Content and Energy Calculation in Pasteurized Human Milk: Comparison Between Infrared Analysis and Creamatocrit
Nerli Pascoal Andreassa1, Fabiola Isabel Suano-Souza2,3,4, Roseli Oselka Saccardo Sarni2,3
1Human Milk Bank, São Bernardo do Campo Women's Hospital, Santo Andre, Brazil.
Summary
The infrared analyzer (Miris) measured significantly higher energy and fat content in pasteurized human milk (HM) compared to the creamatocrit method. Both methods showed a moderate correlation for energy and fat in HM samples.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Accurate measurement of energy and fat in pasteurized human milk (HM) is crucial for infant nutrition.
- Existing methods like creamatocrit have limitations in precision.
- Infrared analysis offers a potentially more accurate alternative for HM analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the accuracy of infrared analysis (Miris) versus the creamatocrit method for determining energy and fat content in pasteurized HM.
- To assess the correlation between these two methods in a large cohort of HM samples.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study analyzed 1,858 pasteurized HM samples from 317 mothers.
- Energy and fat content were measured using infrared transmission spectrophotometry (Miris) and the creamatocrit method.
- Statistical analysis, including correlation and linear regression, was performed.
Main Results:
- The Miris method yielded significantly higher values for both energy (+8.96 kcal/dL) and fat (+0.40 g/dL) compared to the creamatocrit method (p < 0.001).
- Moderate positive correlations were observed between the Miris and creamatocrit methods for both fat (r = 0.585) and energy (r = 0.591).
- Linear regression indicated a direct association between energy values from both methods, adjusted for maternal factors.
Conclusions:
- While creamatocrit and infrared analysis show significant correlation for HM energy and fat, creamatocrit consistently underestimates these values.
- Infrared analysis (Miris) provides higher and potentially more accurate measurements of energy and fat in pasteurized HM.
- These findings highlight the importance of method selection for precise nutritional assessment of HM.
